Embers in the Ashes

Chapter 12

Amwolf was the first to attack. He sprinted forward and- taking advantage of Andy's bent stance- launched himself into the air so he was even with her head. His hands wrapped around her throat. The surprise had her stumbling back a step, but she remained standing. She grabbed his hips, throwing him to the ground. He didn't stay down backflipping out of range immediately following the impact.

"Not bad, wolf, but you got to do better than that." He stayed silent as they circled each other.

Meanwhile, Harris didn't get the benefit of an impasse. Raza was flighty. Each punch was dodged with a calm grace. He knew he couldn't match her speed and she was counting on that. Her own moves were ineffectual, lacking the strength necessary to get past the armor.

"You ever gonna do some damage?" she backed up, jumping over a kick.

"Look who's talking."

She stepped forward again, but this time he was ready. He grabbed her wrist and swiped her legs out from under her. he stared down at her where she laid on her back.

"You were saying?"

Boetias lacked patience. That was the first notable fact. His gaze didn't flicker, didn't change and didn't search. He ran ahead grabbed Amne's waist to force her onto her back. He undoubtedly believed his sheer weight would be enough to keep her secure. She was not so easily deterred. holding her like that was his first mistake. A woman's lower body is their strongest point. She turned her hip, flipping their positions.

One arm on his throat and her leg over his groin and she could have ended it there, but no. She wanted to know what he was truly capable of.

The time for assessing opponents was over. Amwolf's approach was cooler. He stepped out of his fighting stance and circled her, just out of  range. Her eyes narrowed at the change. She didn't like his nonchalance and didn't dare turn her back to him, but he didn't need her to. It was a right shame that she thought little of her armor.

This time he pounced and she was ready. When he leaped over her head she grabbed his ankles. She hadn't anticipated the sudden lurch when she tried to pull him down. His fingers had latched on to the gap between the metal pieces of her shoulders.

She tried to yank him down, but though the gaps were there no matter how strongly she pulled the metal wouldn't break.

In a feat most didn't deem possible amwolf kicked his feet out toward Andy's thumbs. When her grip broke he flipped his legs over his head where he then dangled back to back with his opponent. His hands still gripped her armor, but now were backwards.

Caring little for his plight Andy fell back intending to crush him underneath her.

He dropped shifting onto his back and braced. His forearms and legs took the brunt of the force. Realizing the fail, Andy began to stand, but he wrapped his legs around her throat and dug his hands into the dirt. She fell back and the count down began.

No matter how she clawed at him or attempted to force him from the earth, he would not relent.

Victory fell to Leviathan Amwolf.

Raza wasn't one to stay down long. She kicked out, her foot connected to his jaw with a resounding crack. The smirk was gone.

As he stumbled she hit his knees and he fell. She pounced on him, poised to hit the pressure point where neck met shoulder. He gasped as she pressed, vision whiting out briefly. He could distantly hear the sound of counting. Even disoriented he wouldn't stop. He tossed her off.

His knee dug into her abdomen and his hand laid over her neck ready to tighten if need be. His mind cleared the longer he was released.

They had reached zero, the match went to Ray Harris.

Boetias cooled, but only slightly. They were fairly evenly matched in hand to hand- oh how he loathed to admit it- each punch she deflected or dodged and yet he got the distinct impression she was merely testing him.

She moved with an almost dance-like quality ducking and evading his movements. He had talent that she could see. He had even managed  to grab her waist as she shifted under his arm, but her foot curled around his leg and he stumbled, releasing her.

He kept a steady pattern: punch, kick, dodge, kick, punch, punch, jump back.

"I grow weary of you, boetias." He returned to circling her, but his glare lacked the necessary ice.

"Tired already? If you can't handle even this best surrender now."

"You misunderstand, you rely too heavily on basic tactics."

"Oh?" He advanced surely expecting her to back away, she did not. He was a head taller than her, her eyes level with his chest, carefully blank. His knee had raised, intending to wind her.

She jumped back and- in a show of speed not yet seen- was at his back with his arms twisted behind him. She kicked out his knees and he knelt before her.

She buried her knee in his back to which he fell forward, face forced into the dirt even as she kept an unrelenting grip on his arms.

She leaned over whispering in ear. "You must adapt, or fail every time."

"One. Winner, Cahira Amne."

She released him and stood, holding out a hand. He scoffed and picked himself up, wiping the dirt from his gloves. His expression narrowed, "next time...you're mine."

Her hand now behind her back she gave the barest hint of a smile. "I look forward to it."

She returned to the ranks, now next to Harris. He smiled briefly and she nodded in acknowledgement.

"There was impressive skills in those battle, spars though they may be. We will spend the next several weeks enhancing your skills. We will break you down and rebuild you. You will be tested, beaten down. This role is not for the weak. If anyone believes they can't handle it, leave now."

No one moved.

"Very well. I wonder who will survive."